AL East Notes: Rays, Yankees, Danks, Red Sox
Here's a look at some items out of the only division to produce three 90-win teams in 2011…
- As they have done in years past, the Rays' plan is to wait for the bigger names on the open market to find homes before they pounce, writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. If the club lands a "big-bucks" DH, Topkin suggests that they could look to fill their first base vacancy with a young, inexpensive option such as the Padres' Anthony Rizzo or the Angels' Mark Trumbo.
- The Yankees had John Danks high on their wishlist before the left-hander inked a five-year, $65MM extension with the White Sox, writes Ken Davidoff of Newsday. Although starters like Edwin Jackson and Hiroki Kuroda remain on the open market, it seems like GM Brian Cashman look to bring in a "few warm bodies" like he did with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia.
- In an interview on WEEI, Red Sox pitching coach Bob McClure stated that the transitions of Daniel Bard and Alfredo Aceves to the rotation could help the bullpen more than anything, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com. The Red Sox remain in the market for a starter and are said to still be in on Kuroda.
Yankees Unlikely To Make An Offer To Kuroda
Earlier this week, it was reported that both the Yankees and Red Sox were pursuing free agent starter Hiroki Kuroda despite luxury tax concerns. However, baseball sources tell Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that the Bombers are unlikely to make a bid for the soon-to-be 37-year-old.
Kuroda seeks a deal that will pay him roughly $12-$13MM per season, which translates to something closer to $17MM when factoring in the 40 percent luxury tax charge. Even though the Yankees like Kuroda, a club source told Matthews that the team simply doesn't have room in the budget for him. Wallace writes that the Yankees' supposed interest in the veteran is likely designed to drive the price up for Boston.
This morning, prior to this report, nearly 28% of MLBTR readers voted the Yankees as the most likely destination for Kuroda.
Quick Hits: Dobbs, Pitching, Floyd, Marshall, NPB
On this date in 1994, the owners implemented a salary cap and revenue sharing as the players were on strike. Those provisions were never put in place though, as the judge who ended the labor dispute ruled that the next two seasons must be played under the previously existing labor conditions. We do have revenue sharing nowadays, but a salary cap isn't going to happen anytime soon. Here's the latest from around the league…
- The Nationals are now focused on improving their bench, but MLB.com's Bill Ladson says (on Twitter) that it seems as though they are unlikely to sign Greg Dobbs. Washington expressed interest in Dobbs last week.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com listed (on Twitter) the Rockies, Marlins, Tigers, Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, and Blue Jays as clubs looking to add a starting pitcher. Earlier today we heard that both the Yankees and Red Sox are pursuing Hiroki Kuroda.
- Even after signing John Danks to an extension, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports that the White Sox could look to trade Gavin Floyd this offseason. The Red Sox expressed interest in the righty during the winter meetings. Floyd will make $7MM in 2012, then a $9.5MM club option for 2013 comes into play.
- In an Insider-only column, ESPN's Keith Law calls the Sean Marshall trade a win for the Cubs. "The Reds, meanwhile, continue what I can only assume is a rapid emptying of their farm system to try to win again in the two years before Joey Votto reaches free agency," he added.
- With several Japanese players slated to join MLB next season, Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker takes a look at the players who will replace them on their former club in Japan.
AL East Links: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Jones, Beltran
Two years ago today, the Blue Jays traded Brandon League and Johermyn Chavez to the Mariners for Brandon Morrow. Morrow has pitched to a 4.62 ERA as a starter in his two seasons with Toronto while League became an All-Star closer last season. Here's the latest from the AL East…
- In an ESPN Insider-only piece, Jim Bowden reports that the Red Sox offered a position player heavy package to the Athletics for Gio Gonzalez before he was traded to the Nationals. Bowden adds that the Blue Jays were only willing to part with risky low-level minor leaguers for the southpaw.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Red Sox's pursuit of both Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey was "very much part of conversation for majority of the time," but they shifted their attention to solely Gio after they learned they were competing with the Nats (Twitter links). The Blue Jays jumped into the bidding late, adds the FOX scribe.
- Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that the Orioles are not shopping Adam Jones, but GM Dan Duquette will listen to offers and make counter proposals. We recently learned that the Orioles wanted Jair Jurrjens, Martin Prado, and at least two of the Braves' young pitchers in return for their center fielder.
- The Yankees considered pursuing Carlos Beltran earlier this offseason according to Bob Klapisch of The Bergen Record (on Twitter), but ultimately decided against it because of his balky knees. Beltran agreed to a two-year deal with the Cardinals yesterday.
- MLB.com's Mike Bauman writes that the Red Sox's makeover – from the front office to the manager to the roster – will be heavily scrutinized this season.
Red Sox, Yankees Both Pursuing Hiroki Kuroda
Only two teams had to pay luxury tax this year, and now they're both after the same pitcher. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter) that both the Yankees and Red Sox are pursuing Hiroki Kuroda now that he's willing to leave California.
Kuroda, 37 in February, is one of the few remaining free agent innings eaters. The Yankees are said to like the veteran righty more than other available pitchers, and the Sox were reportedly trying to decide between signing Kuroda and trading for Gio Gonzalez as of a few days ago. With Gonzalez now in Washington, the decision has been made for them. Kuroda is looking for a $12-13MM annual salary.
Yankees, Marlins Divided On Yoenis Cespedes
There is divide in both the Yankees' and Marlins' front offices on whether to pursue Yoenis Cespedes, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Knobler says the two clubs, along with the Red Sox, may not be as heavily involved in the bidding for the Cuban outfielder as expected.
While there have been conflicting reports on the Yankees' interest in Cespedes, the Marlins are regarded by some teams as the favorite for the 26-year-old, as Knobler wrote earlier this week. According to Knobler, however, Cespedes has told people he plans to make his permanent home in the Dominican Republic rather than Miami, and may prefer to play for a team besides the Fish. Some people within the Yankees' organization, meanwhile, view Cespedes as too raw to justify the price tag, and favor a modest bid that will likely not be enough to land him.
Even with Cespedes moving closer to establishing residency in the Dominican, it doesn't appear he'll officially become a free agent until sometime in January.
AL East Links: Red Sox, Cespedes, Danks, Beltran
The Red Sox were one of the finalists for Gio Gonzalez, but GM Ben Cherington was "not motivated" to deal four prospects for Gonzalez, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. With Gonzalez now on his way to Washington, the Sox will look at other pitching targets like Gavin Floyd, Roy Oswalt, Hiroki Kuroda and Andrew Bailey, all of whom have drawn some interest from Boston this winter.
Here's the latest from the AL East…
- The Red Sox will hire Bob McClure as the club's new pitching coach, reports Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. McClure has spent the last six seasons as the Royals' pitching coach and was hired by Boston last month as a minor league instructor and special assignment scout.
- The Yankees' chances of signing Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes are "slim to none," according to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger (Twitter link).
- The Yankees weren't close to a deal for John Danks, a source tells Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York. Brian Cashman and Kenny Williams "haven't spoken in weeks" after some initial contact, but the Yankees weren't interested in meeting Chicago's demands for their left-hander. Danks and the White Sox agreed to a five-year contract extension yesterday, ending the Danks trade rumors for the foreseeable future.
- The Yankees and Red Sox were the only teams that paid a luxury tax penalty for 2011, reports The Associated Press. New York paid a $13.9MM penalty (the team's lowest since 2003) while Boston paid $3.4MM.
- The Rays fell out of the race for Carlos Beltran due to Beltran's concerns about playing on turf and spending too much time as a designated hitter, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The Cardinals, Indians and Blue Jays appear to be the finalists for Beltran, though the Jays could be similarly hampered by the turf and DH issues.
- The Blue Jays are looking for bullpen help in the form of a lefty specialist and a right-handed setup option, reports MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. Also as part of this mailbag piece, Chisholm answers a reader question about Prince Fielder by noting that the Jays are "extremely unlikely" to pursue the free agent slugger unless his "market completely collapses." The major stumbling block is the Jays' club policy against not giving a player more than five guaranteed years on a contract, while Fielder is looking for a 10-year deal.
A’s Talking Gio Gonzalez, Andrew Bailey
3:02pm: Rival executives say the Nationals have the best chance at obtaining Gonzalez and some believe Danny Espinosa or Ian Desmond could be in play, according to Heyman.
2:44pm: The Red Sox are trying to get Gonzalez and Bailey in a "monster deal," tweets Rosenthal. The Rays are also in on Bailey and the Nationals are the team to beat on Gonzalez, Rosenthal reports.
2:20pm: The Red Sox are still discussing both Andrew Bailey and Gonzalez with the Athletics, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. The Red Sox "obviously won't get both," Cafardo writes.
2:14pm: It looks like the Nationals and Red Sox are the finalists for Gonzalez, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Peter Gammons of MLB Network tweets that the Red Sox or Nationals will likely acquire Gonzalez today. Both Heyman and Gammons suggest the Nationals are the favorites to obtain the left-hander.
1:10pm: The A's are moving closer to a Gio Gonzalez trade, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (all links go to Twitter). The bidding is down to two teams, one of which is the Nationals. The Marlins and Red Sox may also be involved, but the Rangers are not. The Yankees and A's never built momentum toward a deal involving Gonzalez, Olney reports. The Mariners had discussed Gonzalez and it's not clear if they're involved in the current trade talks.
The Nationals are believed to be willing to include multiple top prospects for Gonzalez, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Prospects such as Brad Peacock, Destin Hood, Eury Perez and A.J. Cole could be available to the Athletics. Derek Norris is in the discussion, Olney writes.
Gonzalez is under team control through 2015 and has reached the 200-inning plateau in each of the past two seasons without posting an ERA above 3.23. However, no MLB pitcher has walked more opponents in the past two seasons than Gonzalez and he's about to get expensive through arbitration (projected 2012 salary of $4.2MM).
Indians, Others Have Inquired On Nick Swisher
The Indians are one of several clubs that has called the Yankees about Nick Swisher, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti, a finalist for free agent Carlos Beltran, is also considering trades to improve his club’s offense.
However, Swisher doesn’t appear to be a realistic option for the Indians, since the Yankees don’t have an obvious replacement for Swisher and it wouldn’t be easy to match his production through free agency. The Yankees value Swisher as one of the game’s better right fielders and one of Rosenthal’s sources says they’re “up against their payroll [limit],” for what it’s worth.
Swisher, 31, posted a .260/.374/.449 line with 23 home runs in 635 plate appearances this past season. The Yankees exercised their $10.25M club option for the switch-hitter after the 2011 season and he's set to hit free agency after the 2012 campaign.
New York Notes: Thole, Wright, Yankees
The Yankees and Mets play in baseball’s biggest market, but both are in the midst of quiet offseasons, as our Free Agent Tracker shows. The Bronx Bombers re-signed Freddy Garcia and extended C.C. Sabathia after exercising options on Nick Swisher and Robinson Cano. The Mets lost Jose Reyes to the Marlins, traded for Andres Torres and Ramon Ramirez and signed Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco. Here are the latest rumors from New York:
- The Mets continue to explore possibilities behind the plate and they had interest in Luis Martinez before the Padres sent him to the Rangers yesterday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. Josh Thole, the Mets’ projected starter, will head to Dallas to work on his receiving with catching coordinator Bob Natal in the coming weeks, Puma writes. Mike Nickeas projects as the Mets' backup now that they non-tendered Ronny Paulino.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post expects the Mets to hold onto David Wright until the July trade deadline (Twitter link).
- The Mets and Yankees are two of the teams that continue to seek a utility infielder, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets. The Braves, Cubs and Giants are also interested in utility infielders and Jack Wilson, Ronny Cedeno, Craig Counsell and Aaron Miles are among the available free agents.